Sir rge's statements are an accurate insofar as it tells us what the head of the committee told him. Surely, the head of the committee did not recite to him the report word for word, and if the report was shown to RGE I am sure he would have scanned it for all of us to see.

Also, the report was still sent to the board for proper action and approval. So again, it is not yet a final account or should be deemed accurate.

In a committee of many members, everyone has their opinion and inclination but in the end the committee will always come up with a report that everyone can sort of agree upon and be willing to sign it.

But when you talk to committee members in their individual capacities, surely their versions will be presented in a way which is their own style and tone since we are all human and not capable of memorizing the report word for word.

So to me, while I appreciate rge giving us advanced notice of what the report will be, I have now chosen not to pass judgment until the actual report is made public and published.

For the benefit of those who are new to this thread and too lazy to skim through all the pages, here are the accounts so far.

--------------------

BAMBEE'S BLOG ENTRY


Friday, December 26, 2008

The world has gone crazy.
So, I just had the worst day of my life.

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

This is a golf course. I have been a golfer all my life, and I have never seen anything like this. NOTHING. This is hard to comprehend. And it happened to my own father and my own brother too. Right in front of my eyes.

My brother and I were playing golf at the South Course of Valley. We were on the 3rd hole, and we see two golf carts going past us, overtaking our flight, and setting up to tee off on the next hole. My dad goes up to them and asks them why they would do that, why they would overtake us without even asking for our permission. Golf etiquette 101. One of the guys says that they're with the flight in front of us. (So what? That doesn't give them the right to just pass us WITHOUT asking.) So, we go to the 5th hole. The flight behind us catches up with us, and asks us what caused the hold up. We said that this flight just slipped in front of our flight. So we complained to the marshall. We play the 5th hole and walk towards the next hole, where there is a teehouse, and both the flights in front of us were there, talking with the marshall. The mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur talks with my dad. Things get heated up. Voices were raised. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine that someone would pull out a punch. Apparently not. He attacks my father. His flightmates, maybe 2 or 3 of them, rush to his aid and beat up my father. My 56-year-old father. My younger brother and I could not just watch. We rushed to break the fight. My younger brother pleads to the mayor to please stop it. To not hurt my dad. To just stop. His words still ring through my head..."Sorry na po, sorry na po...tama na...tama na po..." With his hands in front of his chest in a praying position. PLEADING. The mayor socks him in the face. My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.

Someone breaks up the fight. I thought it was all over. The mayor shouts to his caddy: "Hindi nila kami kilala! Sabihin mo nga sa kanila kung sino ako!" And believe me, I had no idea who this person was. But now I know. He's the person who, with 4 other men, beat up my 56-year-old father and my 14-year-old brother. He's the person who sacks a pleading 14-year-old kid in the face. He's a person who, I am sure, is gonna rot in hell.

I lash out, but my dad held me back. I was screaming my lungs out, shouting to this mayor, telling him about what he had done. I said: "Nakakahiya kayo. Singkwenta'y sais anyos ang tatay ko. And kapatid ko kakatorse anyos. Anong ilalaban nila sayo?"

The mayor looks at my brother, point to his face, and says, "Tatandaan kita!" And he tells me that my brother has a bad attitude and that I need to watch him. WHAT THE HELL?! So, my brother's bad for defending his father?!

We leave. We walk to the clubhouse to file a complaint. My brother asks for a doctor. My dad could barely walk. Their group comes to the clubhouse, sees my brother. Once again my brother pleads, says sorry, and is crying. He was CRYING, for crissakes. But no. The relentless mayor still punches him in the face, and then sees my dad and goes after my dad again. Him and his friend pull my dad to the ground, pulls at his feet, and steps on him like he's dirt. I run to him and try to hold him back, holding him back by his shirt, while this other guy and this girl tries to stop me. She tells me to just stop it. I scream in her face "they're beating my father up and you want me to stop?!" I pull at his shirt--I don't let go. All I can see was my dad being trampled on. I didn't even see my brother getting beat up.

People pull them away. I get my dad, and I saw my brother. His right ear was bleeding. I freaked out. I told the receptionists to bring my brother to the clinic. I pull my dad away. People were separating us.

My mom and my older brother come. I tell her Bino's right ear is bleeding. They both look like they could kill. My dad holds my brother off, I hold off my mom. When I finally got my mom under control, my older brother gets away and I hold him off. Two of the mayor's bodyguards pull out guns. I embraced my brother from the back, just holding him back, crying. The receptionists came to us, crying, hugging me, my dad, and my mom, whispering to us to just leave. "Maam, umalis na po kayo, may mga baril sila...Maam...umalis na po kayo please..."

I am pretty sure the Secretary of DAR did not take part in the fight, but he just watched all this happen. He watched two of his sons, as we figured out, the other guy was his son, too, beat up my father and my 14-year-old brother. He didn't do anything to stop it. And this person is what now? A cabinet member. A politician.

Sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it? But this is what happened. TODAY. The day after Christmas. To my family. And all I ask for is JUSTICE. The people at Valley Golf did not seem to want to help us. None of the security guards even tried to stop the fight. Right in the clubhouse. I came back after the fight was over and talked to the receptionists. They say they did not see anything. The general manager of Valley Golf would not give us the names of the men who made my brother's ear bleed. It took him an hour. Maybe even more than that. He seemed to not want to help us. Because, we were against the SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM and the MAYOR OF MASIU CITY, LANAO DEL SUR. They were all scared.

The world has gone crazy. Two politicians beat up a defenseless 56-year-old father and his 14-year-old son. At a golf course. I swear to God, I thought golfers were decent people. You would think politicians were decent people. I guess not. I guess they gang up on 56-year-old men and beat up pleading 14-year-old kids.

Please pray for my dad, my brother and for my whole family. Please pray that we get JUSTICE. Oh God, please, give these people what they deserve.

--------------------

MAYOR'S FLIGHTMATE VERSION

On December 26, 2008 at around 11:00am, our group composed of Rene Maglanque, Sec. Nasser Panagandaman, Arnel Estacio and Atty. Faisal Abdullah registered to play with the Valley Golf on the first (1st) flight of our group. The second (2nd) flight was composed of Hussein Pangandaman, Adnan Pacasum, Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. and Farah Locsin. We also registered the eight year old son of Hussein named Angelo Pangandaman whom they cannot leave behind the clubhouse as there will be no one to take care of him.

Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. and Farah Locsin were late. They caught up with their flight (2nd) at hole no. 4 accompanied by a marshall and their caddies riding on two golf carts and in the process overtaking the flight of Mr. Delfin de la Paz who reacted by protesting what seems to be an overtaking of flight. Nasser Jr. explained to the elder De la Paz that they will just catch up and join their flight mates at hole no. 4. He further explained that they, who like them, had earlier lined up to play and were pre-registered. With the said explanation, del Paz replied “Okey, kortesiya lang.”

When the 2nd flight of Nasser Jr. already played hole no. 4 which is a par 3 and Nasser Jr. was still outside of the green trying to pitch his ball into the green, the flight of dela Paz hit their shots into the green which almost hit Hussein without shouting “Fore!”. Surprised, though sensing trouble which they deemed to choose to avoid, they allowed the other Dela Paz player to hit his shot so they can peacefully resume and concentrate on their playing. At this point, the caddy of Nasser Jr also took the 8 year old Angelo to stay behind the golf cart to avoid being hit by golf balls coming from the dela Paz players.

On the next hole which is hole no. 5, after the 2nd Pangandaman flight hit their drives into the fairway and before they could hit their second shots, again the dela Paz players hit their drives without warning by shouting “fore”! the 2nd Pangandaman flight puzzled and surprised asked themselves why the flight behind them were doing this to them since they could be hit by their golf balls. One caddy even said, “Ano ba yun?”

When the 2nd flight reached the green of hole no. 5 and after holing out, they joined the 1st flight of Sec. Pangandaman and took their snacks. While doing so, the marshall approached and told Nasser Jr. that the dela Paz’s were complaining why they were 5 of them in their group and why they overtook their flight. Nasser Jr. reiterated to the marshall what he explained to the elder dela Paz, which his knowledge the former already accepted his explanation.

Later, unconvinced even after the marshall relayed to him that there were only four (4) and not five (5) in their flight, and that they were not overtaking as they just had to go back to the clubhouse and later join their flight.

The elder dela Paz came and approached Nasser Jr. already agitated and pointing saying, “Mali ka! There were two carts in your flight and you overtook us!” Nasser Jr. answered, “Akala ko po, Sir, nagkaintindihan na ho tayo kanina”.

Explaining about them not overtaking yet elder dela Paz was not convinced , and at the top of his voice said, “Putang ina ka! Member ka ba dito, ha?, Hindi mo ba ako kilala?”

Nasser Jr. patiently and respectfully explained again to him their side, even using “po” and “Sir” – as a sign of respect without revealing that he is the Mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, and replied, “Bakit po kayo sumisigaw? Hindi po tayo nag-aaway”.

The elder dela Paz reacted, “Ikaw ang naghahanap ng away!”, while pulling his umbrella and thrusted the pointed part and hit the belly of Nasser Jr., while the latter was backing up.

The marshall tried to intervene but the elder Dino dela Paz pressed on which prompted and led Hussein to defend his brother. Dela Paz punched Hussein and they engaged in a fist fight.

Meantine, Nasser Jr., prevented the two (2) younger dela Paz from joining the fight by saying, “Awat na, Awat na”. but they got away from him and went in between their father and Hussein. The two young dela Paz was able to hold Hussein preventing him to reach the elder dela Paz as if “umaawat”. Yet, Bino Lorenzo dela Paz kept punching Hussein in the face and Marie dela Paz from behind kept on scratching his face.

In one instance, the elder Dino dela Paz took hold of a golf club driver and tried to hit Hussein. But, Rene Maglanque was able to get hold of the driver’s shaft and took it away from him.

Later on, Sec. Pangandaman, Rene Maglanque, and another golfer from another flight pacified everybody and asked the dela Paz’s to just leave them to prevent further trouble. Delfin dela Paz called someone in his cellphone and we heard him say, “Punta kayo ditto! May away kami!”

The dela Paz’s left. And, after about ten minutes, our group also discontinued playing and went back to the clubhouse. When Hussein was hurrying up to the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his wounds, the elder Dino dela Paz accosted him and warned him in a threatening voice, “Ikaw mag-ingat ka! Hindi pa tayo tapos! Gagantihan kita!”

Blocking is way to the locker room, Hussein replied, “Hindi ka pa ba umaalis? Sumusobra ka na”, the young Bino Lorenzo went in the middle saying, “Huwag po, fourteen years old lang ako”, and yet having his fist ready to give him a punch.

Hence, Hussein defended himself and the three engaged in another fist fight. Maridel dela Paz came from behind Hussein and started scratching Hussein on the right cheek, the neck, and ear, while pulling and tearing his shirt.

Immediately after, they were prevented from further engaging in a fist fight by those present in the clubhouse, the security and other golfers. But the elder dela Paz still shouted “Gaganti ako. Hindi pa tayo tapos.”

The rest of the dela Paz family arrived, with the eldest son carrying a baseball bat. The wife in “duster” with a bladed weapon in hand, as if ready to assault Hussein. They were likewise prevented by the clubhouse security and other golfers present.

At this point, Sec. Pangandaman told his sons to leave already and the dela Paz’s to stop and leave, so that no more untoward incident would happen. Soon, we also left but we had to leave through the parking exit because the dela Paz family was waiting for us at the clubhouse lobby.



--------------------

MEDIA REPORTS

DAR chief, son face mauling raps (ABS-CBN News, 12/27)

DAR chief’s son, 5 bodyguards face charges for alleged mauling of 2 golfers (GMA News, 12/27)

Golf mauling sparks blog outrage (Inquirer.net, 12/28.)

Golf club suspends DAR chief over brawl (Inquirer.net, 12/29)

Valley Golf sets emergency meeting - ‘Mauling’ case on agenda (Inquirer.net, 12/29)

We were attacked first - DAR chief (Philstar.com, 12/29)

DAR chief apologizes for golf brawl (Inquirer.net, 12/29)

Arroyo orders probe into golf club brawl (Inquirer.net, 12/29)

NBI also probes golf course brawl (Inquirer.net, 12/30)

Nobody Wants To Talk At Valley Golf(Inquirer.net, 12/30)

Farmers join quit call for DAR chief - To participate in online campaign (Inquirer.net, 12/31)

Pangandamans’ ‘sober image’ soiled (Inquirer.net, 12/31)

De la Pazes reject DAR Chief's Apology (Inquirer.net, 12/31)

Valley Golf Vows Firm, Fair Action (Inquirer.net, 12/31)

No Talk Of Brawl In Dela Paz Media Noche (Inquirer.net, 1/02)

Dela Paz's daughter to NBI: Don't be swayed by influence (ABS-CBN News, 1/02)

--------------------

COMMENTARIES

Impunity by Manolo Quezon (12/28.)

Other sides of stories by Alvin Capino, Manila Standard (1/02)

--------------------

NEWS VIDEOS

TV Patrol, December 27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALiHydU7gBE

DAR Chief's Apology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbt8OC46OLA

Mayor Nasser Jr's Side Of The Story via Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t09kRG7vkfE

NBI Starts Investigation on the Inciddent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llBCwMziGbw

--------------------

I hope this gives everyone a better understanding of the events that unfolded from first-hand accounts (Bambee's blog, Nasser's flightmate, Nasser's interview, and their statements to the media) as opposed to a "he said, she said, a source told me" second hand account.

The next document to add to this should be Valley's report and action once it is made available.

Here is a scan of the Incident Report made on the day of the incident:




It is best if we have all documents, and even visual evidence of the injuries at our disposal so we can make a well-formed opinion of this incident, rather than just get it from other sources that are passed-on accounts.

I have a problem with the timeline and some minor inconsistencies here.

a. Bambee and the security agency report claim they got beaten up at 1:30pm. How can this happen at 1:30pm when RGE says the De la Paz group registered at 1:05pm. There is no way you can play 5 holes in 25 minutes. And they claim the Pangandamans were playing slow?

b. RGE's report also says that the Pangandamans registered at 12:40pm. Between 12:40 and 1:05 is a 25 minute gap. I don't know how many minutes gap Valley Golf uses to separate flights but over here we use 7 minutes. With a 7 minute gap between flights you only need 14 minutes from Pangandaman flight #1 to the De la Paz flight. This means that there was a good 11 minutes to spare (enough time for one more flight with time to spare). Was Valley Golf so backed up that day that the De la Paz group was able to catch up to the Pangandaman group? If so,

1. Why wasn't there another flight between the Pangandamans and the De le Paz's if tee time was such a premium that day; and,

2. Why did Valley allow the De la Paz's to play as a two-some if it was against Valley rules?

This is from my unofficial accounts and eyewitness sources, I think the dela Paz group registered at 10:30 and due to the traffic only got to tee off at 12:00. Again, I am not sure where rge's sources are from, but as I have said - lets not take his report as truth yet as his memory (or the memory of the one relaying the story to him) is not perfect. Rge may have meant 11:05am.

it was on or about 1330, not exactly 1330.



we usually play golf in the phils very leisurely, stopping at tee-houses to eat and chat.



it could be that tee-time was at such a premium that they did not let anyone play. it's crazy!

i experienced this first hand.

it was a saturday morning (two-somes not allowed) and it just so happened that there were only a few players then. 30mins at the starter's area with my friend, nobody tee-ing off. another 15mins, still nobody!

seriously! rules were meant to achieve something (allow more players to play, achieve faster rounds, etc); they were never meant to be absurd!



they registered as a three-some. valley can't do anything if one player does not want to hit.

I have read somewhere in the forum that it is the policy of Valley Golf on their South Course that on weekends and holidays, 0ne(1) member per one (1) guest. The fiasco happened in South Course on 26th December and was declared a Holiday, in the Pangandaman's group there are 2 flights of foursome each.

In the Pangandaman's version of the story, he mentioned the names of the people in the flight and only the Secretary was mentioned as a member. I suppose that there are three other members in their group?

If not, Valley Golf has some explaining to do to their members.

All people involved in the fight should b suspended from all Philippines golf courses for 6 months. This would teach them to respect the game and the etiquette needed to play golf.

I agree.

speaking of etiquette couple of players in forest hills should be suspended. the players initials are CC and MP

why?

Here is where I got the info on my earlier post. I understand that only Sec. Pangandaman and Mr. Dela Paz was suspended temporarily. Does it mean there were no other members on the Secretary's group? If there are others, they should also be suspended for being involved. If there were no other Valley members in Pangandaman's group, here is a classic scenario in our beloved Philippines that if it is for the benefit of the high and mighty's rules and policies does not apply.

I have to reply to this post! Will it change the unfortunate events that just happened?





exactly! why raise the issue here?

Yes it will. Similar events like this will be avoided if the penalty is at the extreme. Imagine being unable to play golf in the whole Philippines for 6 months. For a golf lover that would be extremely tormenting. Forget about my comments about CC and MP karma will get them soon enough.

good point. Are there "palakasan" in Valley Golf? which favors the prominent "celebrity" ones and dont treat every member equally?

Im starting to lose my respect on this course. I hate to see that there is still "corruption" even on a golf course, thats the last haven here in Philippines where I thought everyones treated equally.